Device for eliminating squeaks from board structures



Nov. 28, 1950 H. E. BEACH 2,532,006

DEVICE FOR ELIMINATING SQUEAKS FROM BOARD STRUCTURES Filed March 5, 1947 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 Device lion iinnirrjive'riivcfsdeserts riioivi BOARD STRUCTURES Harland Beach, Valparaiso, Ind. Apeiiea'ies- Msm5, 194?, seen Ndf'iazfizs (c1.",2o s) "4 Claims.

1 ,MyJfinvention relates to anti-squeak devices 'for prev enting, eliminating, or nullifying ohjectionable squeaks and noises developed in wooden or'other similar structures, such as flooring and other building arrangements of like nature. .An important object of my invention is to provide an anti-squeak, or squeak correcting device, comprised of an adjustable supporting member, provided with locking means and suitable support means to secure the same to the sub-flooring under the joist separating the flooring proper from the said sub-flowin I .Anotherobj ect of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character which can be adjusted from time to time if, after its first attachment, squeaks develop from continual use or weight to which the flooring is subjected, or when the said flooring warps because of climatic conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character which is simple in construction, practical in its use and operation, and of such elemental construction as to warrant economical manufacture thereof, in quantity production.

Other features and ancillary objects inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description wherein, like numerals designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a flooring and sub-flooring showing m invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the various views, flooring made up of boards l0 and H, jointed by means of the tongue and groove arrangement generally designated as i2, is common structure for flooring of a wooden construction. The said flooring is usually spaced from the sub-flooring ll, or the support H, by means of cross joists l8. In order to attach my device, generally designated 4, it is necessary to bore out the sub-flooring i! to form a suitable bored out portion 2E3, in order to provide sufiicient clearance for the immobilizing support 8.

extended supporting flange 9, placed directly under the boards that had developed noises or squeaks when subjected to weight of persons trodding thereupon.

The support 8 is a dished-out, funnellike structure, or conical structure, having an The saidicon'ical structure 8 is provided fwith an opening I3, engaging rotatablythe reduced up" or extension 1, emanatinglfrom the body. 5 of the screw 5'; the body furnishing a resting shoulder fi-ior thelower portion of the conical S t h Screw i u e y n hr a ably. attachedtothe flange structure i hlhaving extended flange portion [5, which is secured 'to the sub fioo'ring Ilby means of the screw s16. 'A look nut j 5 provides; adjustmentland QG lre locking p n e the 20 mm p rt tend the flooring l0 and l I preventing squeaks when the said iiooring is caused to be deflected by weight exerted thereupon. v

Sometimes such oo develo s qi aks ev after a device, such astheone comprising my in.. vention, is positioned thereunder due to warping of lumber, or other atmospheric conditions, which may affect the situation. In that event, the lock nut l9 may be loosened and the screw 5 may be threaded to reach upwardly and exert a greater pressure by virtue of the conical element 8 against the lower surface, or underneath surface, of the flooring comprised of the sections ill and ll. Then the lock nut is tightened in place, or in the newly adjusted position, thus eliminating the squeak once again.

It will be understood that some changes may be made in the construction of the parts of my improved support without departing from its. essential features and purposes; hence, it is my intent to cover, by the instant patent application, any such changes which may be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a sub-flooring, flooring made up of jointed floor boards mounted thereon in spaced relationship with respect to the said sub-flooring, and an anti-squeak device comprising, a circular flanged element rigidly secured to the said sub-flooring, adjusting means secured to the said flanged element and terminating in a reduced shank portion, a frustoconical supporting element secured rotatabl to the reduced shank portion of the said adjusting means, and locking means to retain the said adjusting means in varied positions within the range of adjustment and disposed in contactual relationship under pressure directly below a point in a line of juncture of a pair of the said floor boards.

2. In combination, a sub-flooring, flooring made up of jointed floor boards mounted thereon in spaced relationship with respect to the said sub-flooring, and an anti-squeak device comprising, a circular flanged element rigidly secured to the said sub-flooring, adjusting means secured to the said flanged element and terminating in a reduced shank portion, a frustoconical supporting element secured rotatably to the reduced shank portion of the said adjusting means, and locking means to retain the said adjusting means in varied positions within the range of adjustment and disposed in contactual relationship under pressure directly below a point in a line of juncture of a pair of the said floor boards. the said frusto-conical supporting element being of smaller dimension than the said flanged element.

3. In combination, a sub-flooring, flooring made up of jointed floor boards mounted thereon in spaced relationship with respect to the said sub-flooring, and an anti-squeak device comprising, a circular flanged element rigidly secured to the said sub-flooring, adjusting means secured to the said flanged element and terminating in a reduced shank portion, a irustoconical supporting element secured rotatably to the reduced shank portion of the said adjusting means, and locking means to retain the said adjusting means in varied positions within the range of adjustment and disposed in contactual relationship under pressure directly below a point in a line of juncture of a pair of the said floor boards, the said sub-flooring being bored out to a dimension affording clearance to the said frusto-conical supporting element but smaller than the perimetral dimension of the said flanged element thus providin a surface for securing the said flanged element thereto.

4. In combination, a sub-flooring, flooring made up of jointed floor boards mounted there on in spaced relationship with respect to the said sub-flooring, and an anti-squeak device comprising, a circular flanged element rigidly secured to the said sub-flooring, adjusting means secured to the said flanged element and terminating in a reduced shank portion, a frusto-conical supportin element secured rotatably to the reduced shank portion of the said adjusting means, and locking means to retain the said adjusting means in varied positions within the range of adjustment and disposed in contactual relationship under pressure directly below a line of juncture of a pair of the said floor boards, the said frustoconical supporting element being of smaller dlmension than the said flanged element, the said sub-flooring being bored out to a dimension affording clearance to the said frusto-conical supporting element but smaller than the perimetral dimension of the said flanged element thus providing a surface for securing the said flanged element thereto.

HARLAND E. BEACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numcer Name Date 1,453,017 Lindelof Apr. 24, 1923 1,697,800 Treiber Jan. 1, 1929 2,235,953 Whitfield Mar. 25, 1941 2,242,722 Henry May 20, 1941 

